VACUUM DRESSING FOR USE WITH GUIDE TUBE

Vacuum dressings with a guide tube are provided for implantable medical devices that inhibit infection associated with in-dwelling devices while encouraging healing of the incision around the device. The vacuum dressings mitigate pooling of fluids that harbor bacteria from between the outer diameter of an inserted implantable medical device and the inner diameter of a guide tube and also in the cylindrical gap, between the outer diameter of an inserted implantable medical device and the inner wall of the subcutaneous tunnel, which remains in fluid communication with skin microflora. Implantable medical devices may also illustratively include a variety of catheters, such as venous access, peritoneal dialysis, and other indwelling venous access catheters that require skin penetration; cannulas; Steinman pins; Kirschner wires; and cardiac assist device lines.